Apparatus and method for inserting indicia in soap



Jan. 19, 1965 J. GARVEY 3,166,329

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSERTING INDICIA IN SOAP Filed Sept. 11, 1961 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0} N k N w m N N a I T 1 g v 2 INVENTQR JAMES GARVEY ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 19, 1965 J. GARVEY 3,166,329

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSERTING INDICIA IN SOAP Filed Sept. 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTOR JAMES GARVEY ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 19, 1965 J. GARVEY 3,166,329

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSERTING INDICIA IN SOAP Filed Sept. 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 45 74 1llll 78 69 89 l g' g/l i 4 9/ FIG] INVENTOR JAMES GARVEY BY *4 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,166,329 APPARATUS AND METHGD FOR DJSERTING INDICIA IN SOAP James Garvey, R0. Box 669, Station A, Vancouver,

British Columbia, Canada 7 Filed Sept. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 137,293 12 Claims. (15. 264- -171) t This invention relates to method and apparatus for inserting indicia in bars of soap so as to produce a compound column of soap comprising body soap compacted aroundand bonded to a rod of indicia soap.

In United States Patent 2,296,842, issued September 29, 1942, to James Garvey et al., for an invention entitled Method of and Apparatus for Insecting Indicia in Soap, there was disclosed and claimed a method by which a so-called rod of indicia is inserted in the center of a column of soap issuing from theexitend of a finishing plodder. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed in this application relate to certain improvements on the invention disclosed in the said, prior patent.

Among the ditficulties encountered in satisfactory introduction of an indicia rod into a column of soap in a finishing plodder are those which result in so-called pinch-off of the indicia rod inthe region of the nozzle end of the plodder wherethe pressure of the body soap is greatest. It appears that when an indicia rod is introduced into body soap in the nozzle portion of a plodder of otherwise conventional design the substantial pressures exerted on the body soap by theplodder screw cause it, in certain circumstances, to compact very tightly on the region of theend of the indicia rod guide tube sons to pinch-oil the indicia rod itself and thus yield a column of soap having gaps in the indicia portion, or at least distortions therein. Another problem is that which has attended the formation of a completely satisfactory bond between the body soap and the rod. While with many soaps it is possible, .by very careful control of operating (ferns commercial operation of the invention, to be able to control during operation of the plodderboth the radial position of the indicia rod, as it is introduced intothe' body soap, and the precise point within the plodder at which the body soap is allowed to surround and grip the indicia rod. These requirements'arise as a result of the necessity of adjusting orientation of the indicia within the body soap, and that, of ensuring the best possible" compacting of the body soap around the indicia rod, consistent with. the absence of pinch-off effect. It is an and is firmly bonded thereto. In order to carry out this method my invention contemplates the provision of suitable apparatus for precoating'the indicia rod with bonding solution, and also efiecting reduction of pressure in the nozzle portion of the plodder, as aforesaid, for facilitating smooth drawing in of the rod into the body soap and-for making adjustments in boththe radial position of the indicia rod, and the point at which it first comes into contact with the body soap.

support shown in FIGURE 2 taken along the line 3 s therein;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the indicia rod guide tube taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a pictorial view of a guide die;

FIGURE 6 is a pictorial view of a shroud designed to V be mounted in the nozzle portion of the plodder so as to' create a region ofreduced pressure therein; FIGURE? is a center sectional view of apparatus for adjusting the guide tube along and about its longitudinal axis, and

. FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URE 1, there is shown an indicia soap rod 1 issuing from the output nozzle 2 of a plodder adapted to produce indicia soap ;rod, the design of which does not formpart of the present invention and will not therefore be described in detail. The indicia soap rod then passes from left to right through a fog coating apparatus generally indicated at 3 which rests on-a vertically adjustable base 4. On leavingthe fog coating apparatus, the rod passes through a guide tube generally indicated at 5 from its,

entry end 6 to its exit end generallydesignated at 7. A substantial portion of the guide tube 5 is disposed in a hollow shaft 3 of a rotatable plodder'screw 9 which is mounted in afini shing plodder 10 having an inlet 11, a

cylinder portion 11a accommodating the screw, and nozzle: portion 11b terminating innan outlet; generally designated at 12. 'When the plodder screwis rotated, body'soap which is introduced into the inlet 11 is mixed or plodded thoroughly so as to be physically Worked, compacted I and moved under increasing pressure through the cylinder and nozzle portions towards the outlet 12. The guide tube 5 is positioned in the hollow shaft 8 by means of a guide bearing 13 located'at the forward end of vthe shaft. The guide bearing Iii-permits the guide tube 5 to be movedlongitudinally alonghandto be rotatedabout,

i itsa xis, independent of the rotation of the-plodderscrew object of the method and apparatus herein disclosed to provide meansby which pinch-off can be avoided and the other 'desiderata 'n entioned t above obtained.

The novel method which forms the basis ofjmy invention comprises the steps of coating the indicia rod with a bonding solution and simultaneously advancing both it and the body soap through the-cylinder of the plodder while preventing contact therebetween. In the nozzle portion ofthe plodder a region of reduced pressure is produced in the body soap, and 'withinthis region the venting the entry of body soap into the hollow shaft from i a let 12.

body soaplis allowed to-come into contact with-the-indicia; rod, drawingit'automatically into the advancing column 9. Guide bearing 13 also provides a soap-tight seal prethe plodder proper. The exit end 7 of the guide tube extendsin cantilever fashion beyond the bearing 13 into nozzle portion 11a of the plodder, t0ward plodder out- Along the length of the guide tube means are provided forsupporting the indicia soap rod from the entry end to the exit end of the tube; FIGURE 4 shows such a supporting means which, in this case, consists of a.

guidettrack 14 of substantially semi-circularcross section so as to provide atight engagement with the lower part of inner surface of the guideptube 5:, A groove 15 is provided in the upper surface of track 14 so as to accornmodate a given lcross-segtion ofindicia rod. The; groove 15 must have suflicient depth so that the'indicia. I

. surface.

, means to the end of the guide tube and tapers gradually from this point to'its free end 17. The inner surfa'ceof thefree end 17 isadapted to conform very closely to the shape of the indicia soap rod 1' and the external surface of the free end follows the shape of the inner Thus in the embodiment shown in the draw ings the inner and outer surfaces of the end 1'7 are oval in shape to conform with rod 1. The resulting taper in the shape of the outer surface of the guide die facilitates the flow of body soap about the die and tends to ensure that the body soap will be brought'in contact-with substautially' the entire periphery of the indicia soap rod as it leaves the free end 17 of the guide die. A series of longitudinal slots 13 through the guide die extend chamferededges which facilitate the entry of the body 7 soap into the slots and permit limited preliminary'contact between the body soap and indicla soap rod within the die. The movement of thebody soap and the con- I tact between ,the body soap andthe indi'cia rodthrough' the slots 18 and beyond the free end 17 causes the in-- diciasoap rod to be fdrawn from the guide tube 5 into thecolumn of body soap as the latter moves forward.

The slots 18 in the guide die 16' are designed to permit gradual application of the body soap pressure to the 4% l cross-sectional shape of the compound column of soap which will be extruded out'of the outlet end of the plodder.

After the body soap with associated indicia rod has passed through the exit opening 22 of the passage 2t) the soap is extruded through the outlet 12 of the finishing plodder. This outlet is of a standard type known in the prior art and consists of a forming plate 27 having the desired cross-sectional shape of'the finished soap bar, followed by a soap bearing 28. After the soap has been shaped by the forming plate 27, it is polished by the soap bearing 2.8 and then passes through a thermostatically controlled electrical heater, 29, into an automatic cutter, which in turn feeds the cut soap'bars into a soap back from the free end 17. These slots have outwardly indicia soap rod, thereby reducing the tendency for pinclioff to occur in the region of the end 17.

in a finishing plodder of the type used in theappa ratus here described the pressure exerted by the body soap in the nozzle portion of the plodder is extremely high.

Since the free end 1'7 of the guide ;die' is located in this region of high. pressure, there is a tendency for the indicia rod as it enters the mass of body soap to be pinched-off; One means of assisting in overcomingthisfdifficulty is the provision of a pressure reducing member 19 which is adapted to be mounted in the nozzle of the plodder. This member has a passage 2t which extends between oppositely facing openings 21 and 22 which are positioned in planes perpendicular to Qj the soap flow. While l'donot wish tobe bound by any vtheory concerning my invention, it appears that as a result of a reduced cross-sectional area of the passage 24?, compared with that'of the nozzle portion itself, the

velocity of thebodysoap through the passage 20 is increased relative to that of-the soap in the otherparts of the nozzle andthe pressure exerted by the body soap in the passage'z'lids accordingly decreased.

positioned adjacent to the outlet of the plodder, in the nozzleiportion thereof, by means of mounting lugs. 24 which are afiixed by fmeans of mounting screws: 25 to ing holes 26 is provided along the walls of the nozzle section.

17 of theguide' die 16 is positioned in the'passa'ge defined; byif theishroud 2350 that the indicia soap rod first "comes in contact with body soap in a region of reduced bodygsoap pressure, n thereby reducing the tendency, for

pin'chotfl to occur; The cross-sectional shapelof the" passage 24} is chosen to correspond'generallywith the,

Theimountingholes which are not in 'use are plugged by extra -mounting screws .25 to prevent the escape of body soap from the plodder. Thefree end press and a wrapping machine (not shown).

The fog coating apparatus designated generally at 3 in FIGURE 1 is shown in more detail in FIGURE 2. It consists of acontainer generally indicated at 30 including a bottom section Stta having an integrally mounted bowl 331 formed in its base. A unit generally indicated at 32, consisting of a centripetal impeller 33, and a centrifugal impeller 34 joined'by a hollow shaft 35', is rotated by-a rotating drive 36 which, in the embodiment shown, consists of a high speed electric motor positioned in the container by means of mounting brackets 37', Means generally indicated at 35 are provided for introducing a bonding solution into'the container 'and for maintaining the surface of the solution at apre'determined level 39. In the particular embodiment illustrated this means consists of an'inlet below the level 39 and an over-flow outlet llabove it. An inlet valve is provided to regulate the entry of liquid in accordance with the position of a float 4-3 which rests on the surface of the liquid. The sides of "the bowl 31 have a height approximately equal tothe position of the level 3? from the bottom of the bowl.

The centripetal inipeller33 is located within the bowl 31 and thus below the predetermined level This impeller has a series of blades 44 which, whenthe impeller 33 is rotated in the bonding solution, move the solution radially inwards along the blades to the center, or output,.

' hub'of the centrifugal impeller move the solution radially outwards, away from the hub, and vertically upwards. The bonding solution leaves theicentrifugal impeller in the form of small droplets-which may be carried upwards by the vertical movement of air resulting from the rotation of n1 one'particular embodiment of my invention, the passage 2% is,

defined by a shroud 23 (in'F lGURE 6'). The. shroud is the centrifugal impeller. The larger and heavier ofthese droplets fall downward and return to the mass of liquid in the container 35 while the smaller and lighter droplets are carried upwards bythe air current. The container "3% includes a plastic extension element 49 which'rests on w an annular bearing surfaceStD formedin the upper edge of the bottom section 3% and held thereon by means of releasable clamps 51. .A cover generally indicated at52 having an open cylindrical section 53 adapted to slide in telescoping fashion inthe extension' section 49 and having' a domeshap'ed closure section-S i ls also formed from a plastic material. Diametricallyopposed apertures 55 and '56 are formed, in the cylindrical walls 53. Spanning the. space between the apertures 55 and 56 across the diameter of the container isa support 57 upon which the 'indicia soap rod 1 (shownin FIGURE 1) rests as it traverses the fog coating apparatus byentering the aper:

. ture' 55.and exitingby the aperture 56. The support 57 is formed fronra plastic tube having a-plurality. of slots A removed from its surface, and leavinga series of spaced ribs 59 support d'by longitudinal: stringers 60 (as .'showri more clearly. I

F GURE?) The inner edges. of the]:

der.

ribs 59 are chamfered to reduce the effect of friction as the indicia soap rod slides overthem. To ensure that the indicia rod receives an adequate, but not excessive, fog coating the position of the support 57 relative to the predetermined level 39 of bonding solution may be adjusted by sliding telescopically the cover 52 into or out of the extension 49. As the support 57 is moved farther away from the bonding solution the fogproduced by the centrifugal impeller 34 becomes less dense and is composed of smaller droplets.

A plurality of air inlet ports '61 are provided in the sides of container 30a. Throughthese ports air'is drawn into the stream of upwardly moving bonding solution droplets. The escape of this air from thefog coating apparatus is controlled by means of a vent 62 located in the domed closure 54 of the cover. The vent consists of an inner cylindrical member 63 formed integrally in the center of domed closure 54.- A series of holes 64 are drilled through the inner member. A cover member 65 is rotatably-mounted by means of a pivot 66 on the inner member. The cover member has a series of holes 67 which can by rotation be aligned with the holes 64, or part of them. Bythe adjustment of these vent openings another means is provided for regulating the amount of bonding solution fog deposited on the indicia soap rod as it passes through the coating apparatus.

i It has been found, advantageous when insertin g'indioia in soap to provide apparatusfor adjusting the position'of the guideJtube 5 along" and about its longitudinal axis while .theplodder isiin operation. The provision of an axial adjustment of the guide tubes facilities the positioning'of the free end of the guide die within the passage 20 in the pressure reducing member 19. By examining the soap extruded fromtheoutlet 12 of the plodder it is possible for an operator to note the occurrence of any tendencytowards a pinch-off condition. The axial movement of the guide die relative to the passage permits correction of this condition without the necessity for stopping the plodder. Another problemsometimes encountered results from aslight rotation of the indicia soap rod so that the indicia-appearing in the extruded column of soap is not correctly oriented. -T hus,- if theindicia 110d 1 shown as' having an oval cross-section in FIGURE 4 were to become slightly rotated about its-longitudinal axis, the result would become evident in-the finished bars of soap cut from the columnsince, for instance, the axes of the oval would not be parallel to the sides of the bar. To

compensate for this source of error, apparatus is provided according to the present invention for'rotating the guide tube, and consequently the indicia rod, about its longitudinal axis, without stopping the operation of the plod- As was discussed in relation to the axial correction, p the amount of radial correction required-may be determined from an examination of the soap output from the plodder.

The apparatus for carrying out the longitudinal and radial adjustment of the guide tube along and about its longitudinal axis isshown in FIGURE l generally by reference numeral 68, but will be described in more detail with frcference toFIGURES 7and 8. The walls of the guide tube 5 at its entry end 6 are outwardly flared. A

tates the guide tube, since manual rotation of'the guide tube and indicia soap rod contained therein as will be explained hereunder.

Immediately forward of the member 70 and co-axial with the guide tube 5 is a hollow externally threaded shaft 76 having an annular plate end 77 which comes into facing engagement with the plate 71. The hollow shaft 76 and coaxial guide tube Spass through an aperture generally designated at 78 positioned in the center of a U-shaped fixed frame 79 which is rigidly attached to the rear'wall 80 of the finishing plodder 10. Means 81 are provided to prevent rotation of the hollow shaft relative to the fixed frame 79. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the means 81 consists of an external key way 82 (see FIGURE 8) running the length of the threaded portion of the hollow shaft. A key 83 engages with both the fixed frame 79 and with key way 82to prevent. rotation of the hollow shaft.

Coupling means generally indicated at 84 are used for releasably clamping together member 70 and hollow shaft 76 at their annular plates 71 and 77 respectively. According to theembodiment of the invention illustrated the coupling means 84 consists. of threaded shafts 85 and 86 which are rigidly attached to the plate 71 and extend through plate 77 in arcuate slots 87 and 88 respectively (see FIGURE 8). Nuts 89 and 90, having handles are threaded on shafts 85 and 86 and, when tightened on the shaft, the member 7t? is clamped to the hollow shaft 76, thus preventing the rotation of the gripping assembly, and consequently of the guide tube. However, when the coupling means 84 is released, it is possible by means of handles .75 to rotate the gripping assembly 69 and consequently, within the limits defined by the slots 87, 88, ro-

v it is free to turn within the coaxial hollow shaft76.

An adjustment wheel 91 has internal threads which engage with the external threads on the hollow shaft 76.

The adjustment wheel is rotatably mounted to the fixed frame 79 by means of a bearing 92. r The rotation of the adjustment wheel 91advances or 'r'etr'acts the hollow shaft 76 relative'to the Wall 80 since the bearing 92 on fixed frame '79 prevents the adjustment wheel 91 from moving toward or away from the wall 90. Thus, bycoupling the hollow shaft 76 to the grippingassembly 69 through the coupling means 84, it is possible to advance or retract the guide tube along its longitudinal axis :to adjust the position of the free end 17 of guide die 16 in the passage 20 While the plodder is in'operation. Because of the means 81 which prevent rotation of the hollow shaft relative to the fixed frame, the axialmovement of theguide' tube as a result of the rotation of adjustment wheel 91 is not attended by any rotation of the. guide tube itself so that an independent and continuous axial adjustment of the guide tube within the plodder is provided. If it is desired to effect radial adjustment of the guide tube about its longitudinal axis without changing the axial adjustment, this may be accomplished by releasing the coupling means tube 5 by means of handles 75. i

What I claim as my invention is: 1

1. A method of forming in a finishing plodder a continuous column of soap consisting of body soap surroundgripping assembly generally indicated at 69 is provided for releasably engaging the guide tube about its flared r entry end. The gripping: assembly 69 comprises a hollow cylindrical member 70 having an outwardly directed annular plate 71 at its forward or inner end and having a center bore defined by outwardly tapering walls 72. The 1 gripping assembly 69 further comprises a segmented collar tween themember 70 andthe guidetube 5 Handles .75

are rigidly attached to. the member 'jtllandi permit the ingia rod of indicia; comprising the steps of: (a) coating said rod with a bonding solution; (b) simultaneously advancing the rod and body soap through the plodder while preventing contact therebetween until a predetermined location near the exit end of the plodder; (c) creating a region of reducedpressure on said body soap at said pre determined location; (d) permitting in said region at least partial contact between said body soap and 'said rod whereby the rod is automatically drawn into the mass of i i said body soap and the same isformed around the rod; ('e)ffurther advancing the rodand body soap past said -re'gion whereby the body soap iscornpressedgabout the V 75 rod and isbondedtheretoQ A and bonded thereto.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the step of adjusting the point at which, within said region, the whole periphery of said rod is permitted to come into contact with the body soap.

3. A method of producing a continuous compound column of soapucomprising an indicia rod surrounded bybody soap, said method including the steps of: (a) coating the rod with abonding solution; (b) advancing said body soap along'a path having an entry end and an exit end between which the body soap is physically worked and subjected to increasing pressure tending to compact the same; (c)- simultaneously advancing said rod along 1 said path so that it is surrounded by body soapbut is out of contact therewith; (d) creating a region of reduced pressure within the mass of body soap adjacent the exit end of the path; (e) introducing the rod into said region and permitting the same to commence having contact, at all points about its periphery,-with the body soap at a predetermined location therein, whereby the rod is drawn into the body soap as it moves along the path; (at) further advancing the compound column of soap thus formed so that the body soap is compacted about therod 4. A method as claimedin claim 3 wherein before said loacation, and Within said region,'the' body soap is permitted to have contact with a portion of the periphery 'oftherod' f V 5. A-method as claimed. in clairn3 comprising the further step of adjusting said location.

6. Apparatus for inserting indicia in soap so as to produce a compound columnof soapconsisting of body soap surrounding and. bonded to a rod of indicia soap, said said radial and longitudinal 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising means for adjusting, when the plodder is in operation, the longitudinal position along said axis of the exit end of the guide tube. 1 f

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising means for adjusting, when the plodder is in operation, both the positions of the-exit end of the'guide tube. V a

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the. said means for establishing a region of reduced pressure con"- prise a shroud mountedin said nozzle portion, said shroud comprising-1a tubular member defining a passage having entry and eXitends and a cross-sectionsimilar to that of the said compound c'olu'm'nof soap, and wherein the exit end of the guide tube is located within said passage.

1l. Apparatus as claimed in clairn'6 wherein track vmeans are. disposed within the" guide tube," said track 'means having a groove adapted for longitudinalsliding contact-with at least a portion of the periphery of the indicia soap rod; and wherein the inner end of the guide tube comprises an indicia rod guide die having'a passage therethroughadapted to conform closely with'the pe- 'riphcry ofthe indicia soap rod, an outer surface'of shape s'irnilar thereto, and longitudinal slots disposed around over the die, is shaped to conform with'andreceive the indicia soap rodpassing therethrough and whereby contact the periphery thereof whereby 'the body'soap, as it passes I is permitted through said slots between theybody soap apparatus comprising: a plodder'having a cylinder and nozzle portion contiguous with the cylinder at the forwardvend thereofia helical screw disposed Within the cylinder,

said screw having its longitudinal axis concentric with that of the cylinder and adapted, when"rotated,.to cause compacting andmovement :of the body soap under increasing pressure through the cylinder and nozzle, said screw having a hollow shaft; means in said nozzle forestablishing therein a region of reduced-pressure; an indicia rod guide tube disposed along saidaxis in the hollow shaft so as to permit rotation relative thereto, said guide tube having an inlet end to which access can be obtained'outside the plodder at the rear thereof, and an exit end located in said region.

J 7 7. Apparatus asclaimed 6 comprising means for adjusting, when theplodder is in operation, the radial position about said axis of the exit end of the guide tube.

surrounding thedie and the indicia soap rod Within it.

i 12-. Apparatus as claimed in claim .6 Whereinthe exit I end of the indi'cia rod guide tube is providedwith longitudinal slots disposed around the periphery thereof.

References Cited in the the of thisipatent UNITED STATES PATENTS [1,184,016 Price May 23, 1916 I 1,614,526 Lambie'et a1 "Jan. 18, 1927 2,053,781 Reichel Sept. 8, 1936 2,185,701 Boyle, Jan. 2, 1940 2,412,979 Garvey Dec. 24, 1946 v..2,414,097 Garvey et al. Jan. 14, 1947 7 2,560,778 Richardson et al. July 17, 1951 2,581,769 Olson Jan. .8, 1952 2,593,136 Gliss Apr. 15, 1952 2,650,564' Fink Sept. 1, 1953 2,659,932 McNamee Nov. 24, 1953 2,669,754" Chadbourne Feb. 23, 1954 2,713,188 Garvey -July 19, 1955 2 ,945,265 Snell et al. July 19, 1960 

1. A METHOD OF FORMING IN A FINISHING PLODDER A CONTINUOUS COLUMN OF SOAP CONSISTING OF BODY SOAP SURROUNDING A ROD OF INDICIA, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) COATING SAID ROD WITH A BONDING SOLUTION; (B) SIMULTANEOUSLY ADVANCING THE ROD AND BODY SOAP THROUGH THE PLODDER WHILE PREVENTING CONTACT THEREBETWEEN UNTIL A PREDETERMINED LOCATION NEAR THE EXIT END OF THE PLODDER; (C) CREATING A REGION OF REDUCED PRESSURE ON SAID BODY SOAP AT SAID PREDETERMINED LOCATION; (D) PERMITTING IN SAID REGION AT LEAST PARTIAL CONTACT BETWEEN SAID BODY SOAP AND SAID ROD WHEREBY THE ROD IS AUTOMATICALLY DRAWN INTO THE MASS OF SAID BODY SOAP AND THE SAME IS FORMED AROUND THE ROD; (E) FURTHER ADVANCING THE ROD AND BODY SOAP PAST SAID REGION WHEREBY THE BODY SOAP IS COMPRESSED ABOUT THE ROD AND IS BONDED THERETO. 